Instant miracles under spotlight

The rise of youthful prophets in recent years has witnessed a flurry of "miracles" bordering on instant healing and deliverance.

While many are testifying that healing is taking place and some received "miracle money" in their bank accounts some time back, questions have been raised when some of those healed slide back to their problems.

Recently, Zimdancehall chanter Soul Musaka, popularly known as Soul Jah Love, testified that he had been healed of a leg injury at a Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries' church service.

Soul Jah Love is reportedly unwell and hospitalised in a British hospital. This was less than a month after testifying that he had been healed.

PHD leader Prophet Walter Magaya is also said to have healed mentally challenged men in Harare and Rusape last year.

One of the men, after having restored his mental health after prayers, is reportedly showing signs of the illness again, although at times he appears to be well.

Some time back, United Family International Church (UFIC) leader Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa performed a miracle that saw one of his congregants giving birth after a three-day pregnancy.

The story grabbed headlines but it is said that the miracle baby didn't live for long.

Some congregants who claimed to have received miracle money said the dollars changed into leaves while others were arrested for withdrawing money that had been wrongly deposited into their bank accounts.

Mr James Saunyama of UFIC was hauled before the courts for withdrawing US$1 000 from his Standard Chartered bank account. He claimed that he thought it was "miracle money".

However, church leaders explained that it was largely the responsibility of the believer to maintain their healing or deliverance.

While PHD officials were not available for comment, UFIC spokesperson Pastor Prime Kufa said, "The Bible in John 5 verses 13-14 says, "The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, See, you are well again, and stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.

"God heals but it is the responsibility of an individual to keep the healing, for example, if someone is healed of a disease but return to his or her old lifestyle, chances are high that he will go back to the same condition.

"The other thing that people should be aware of is that healing is all about faith, After healing, people should make sure that they remain in the faith."

Anglican Harare Diocese secretary, Reverend Clifford Dzawo weighed in saying after healing, prophets and pastors should counsel their congregates on how to maintain the miracle.

"At one point Jesus says after healing a person should go and sin no more, meaning if someone is healed and go back to sin, chances are high that he or she will go back to the old state.

"But all in all we should also consider that many of these so called miracles are not genuine. The Bible told us that we should test the spirits," Rev Ruwona said.

Seventh Day Adventist Pastor Gift Rwodzi said soon after the healing, believers should take time to investigate the authenticity of the healing.

"Most of these prophets have mastered the art of playing with people's emotions and Christians are made to believe that they have been healed while in actual fact they have not," he said.

"The Bible says we should test the spirit, testing if the prophet is living in God's way. ls he or she following God's dictates? If not then the miracles will be questionable. Miracles can happen but we ought to question the source of the power."

Union for the Development of the Apostolic and Zionist Churches In Zimbabwe Africa (Udaciza), Rev Edison Tsvakayi said, "Where I worship miracles do happen but the Bible says in the last days many false prophets will arise. The book of Jeremiah says cursed are those who use the name of the Lord to deceive people. Those are the majority of prophets we have these days.

"People are desperate and these young prophets are taking advantage of that. They know it very well that most of these miracles are not genuine. Only time will tell, these guys will be exposed."